Baby delivered on the side of Route 6

After 24 years on the job, a Brewster fire captain delivered his first baby in a rescue vehicle on the side of Route 6.

BREWSTER — You never know when training will pay off.

It happened for Brewster fire Capt. Don LaBonte early Wednesday morning when, after 24 years on the job, he delivered his first baby, in a rescue vehicle on the side of Route 6.

LaBonte was home getting ready for an 8 a.m. shift when he heard the 911 call at 6:25 a.m. alerting the fire department of a woman in advanced labor. He headed for the address and was able to provide assistance until the rescue truck with firefighter/paramedic Chad Foakes and firefighter/emergency medical technician Matthew Tucker arrived. The three emergency workers placed the woman on a stretcher and loaded her into the truck for the trip to Cape Cod Hospital.

Near the Dennis-Harwich line, LaBonte saw the baby's head crowning and the rescue crew pulled off to the side of the road.

"Everything was textbook," LaBonte said. "The baby was crying and active, color was good. The whole crew did an outstanding job."

"The mother was tired. She'd been in labor since yesterday and she was exhausted," LaBonte added. "She was happy and content knowing the baby was fine."